crawford



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. CRAWFORD.

v GRAIN OLEANING AND SU'OURING MACHINE.

Np. 348,826. W Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

N. PETERS. Phmo-Lhhographer. Wahingion, ma

(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Bheet 2. M. ORAWPGRD.

GRAIN CLEANING AND scomgme MAOHINE. No. 348,826. Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

Q? Zorn 691.

N. PETERS. Pholo-Lflhoghphcr. Washington mc.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M. (JRAWFORD.- GRAIN CLEARING AND SGOURING MACHINE. No. 348,826. Patented Sept. '7, 1886 Ill LA't Z-brneg.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MIDDLETON CRAVFORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY M. COLLYEB, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

GRAIN CLEANING AND SCOURING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,826, dated September 7,1886.

'7 Application filed October 28,1884. Serial No. 146,660. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MIDDLETON CRAWFORD,

a citizen of Canada, and a subject ofthe Queen of Great Britain, now and for one year last 5 past residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain Cleaning and Scouring Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to machines for cleaning grain, and the novelty consists in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, as will be more'fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Ordinarily the cleaning of grain has been accomplished by moving arms or heaters, which strike the berries while they are in sus pension among them or plow through the grain in mass. In some instances, also, the grain has been scoured between stationary and moving surfaces. In either case the contact of the berries with each other, or with the arms or beaters, or with the scouring-surface results in breaking many of the berries and rupturing the shell of others, occasioning the loss of particles of flour and rendering the subsequent separation of the bran difficult. Such are the means new employed to separate from the herries the natural fuzz which is upon one end of the berry and the friable germ-covering upon the other. These mechanical impurities are present in wheat and some other grains, and it is especially desirable to remove them before grinding, as their subsequent separation from the flour is almost impossible, the particles becoming almost as line as the flour itself.

This invention is largely based upon the theory that the fuzz upon the end of the berry, and which is composed chiefly of silica, having a hardness of seven, according to Mohrs scale, known to all mineralogists, will not be completely separated by blows of beaters, contact of the berries with each other, or with a scouring-surface by the machines now employed.

tervals. Under such treatment it will bend, but not always break.

My invention provides for grinding the fuzz off entirely down to the hull on each berry. I provide a revolving truncated cone having These at best only operate at inan even surface of fine sharp cutting materialas emery or other equivalent material, as corundum. Thishas ahardness of nine, (Mohrs scale,) and by its swift even motion rapidly and efficiently accomplishes its purpose. Conconcentric to and corresponding with this grindingsurface is an enlarged softer yie1d-- ing surface, preferably of rubber, and between these two surfaces, which are continuous annularly, I allow the grain to pass in a downward spiral direction. The space between them may be adjusted to allow the grain to pass in such a thin sheet that contact between adjacent berries will not usually occur. This softer yielding surface'serves efficiently to rub and clean off the loose bran covering the shell of the berries proper; but its more important functions lie in retarding the progress of the berry. It holds each end of the berry while its opposite end is acted upon by the grinding-surface, and the ends of the berries are compelled by this means to be alternately pre sented thereto in their downward spiral course. I provide that each berry shall be continuously treated by these two surfaces until all its smut, fuzz, &c., shall have been loosened, and for separating the said loosened substances from the body ofthe grain assoon as it emerges from the cleaning-chamber by a draft of air incited by the fan of the machine. At this point I submit the grain to a further brushing and scouring process, to remove such of the loosened substances mentioned as still adhere by means of brushes suitably arranged and forming a continuation of the cone above mentioned. I locate the fan directly under the scouring-chamber, and so arrange the parts that the draft incited by the fan will first take from the grain the great body of the impurities through suitable exits provided in the 1 jacket, and while it is undergoing the brushing operation, and I afterward take any re maining impurities from the grain as it is being conducted from the machine. The firstmentionedimpurities are gathered from the entire circumference of the machine and enter the fan-chamber from its top,' while the latter are taken from the grain-exit and enter the fan-cl'iamber from below, the impurities being forced in one direction, while the cleaned grain gravitates in another. The grain is thus cleaned and scoured in one machine. These and other minor features of importance are combined in the construction and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form'a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is an elevation of my invent-ion broken away to show the internal construction, a portion being in section. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section, portions being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and looking vertically downward. Fig. 4C is a detail view of the interior of the jacket near the bottom. 7

Referring to the drawings, x designates the main frame of the machine, which consists, essentially, of uprights and cross-beams, and may be of any suitable and approved construction. It supports a hopper, L, which is arranged to feed into the machine at a point near the center, and affords vertical journals for a revolving shaft, G, which will be described.

B designates a conical jacket having an in terior soft lining, b, of rubber, or such analogous material or composition as will have a constant inherent spring-force to reassume a normal position. This jacket is rigidly sup ported in the main frame, and is concentric with the shaft G. Near its bottom I) in its circumference are formed a series of apertures, D, covered with wire screens D, which are arranged flush with the innersurface of the jacket. The apertures D connect with an annular dust-chamber, E, which is formed by a casing of sheet metal or other proper material, as seen at E, and this casing extends beyond the plane of the jacket and considerably below the horizontal plane of its bottom. The horizontal ledge thus formed between the jacket 13 and easing E is perforated at c, and the space between the bottom I) of the jacket and the bottom E of the casing affords a channel for a draft of air from the annular series of perforations e to the top of the fanchamber I, the bottom E of the casing being open at 13 around the shaft G. The fan-chamber I, or, in otherwords, the casing I, which forms the fan-chamber, is arranged beneath the scouring-chamber, and is concentric with the jacket, the fan F being rigidly hung upon the main shaft G. A grain-exit chute, H, leads from the interior of the cleaningchamber above the floor b, as shown, and a chute, K, leads from the chute H to an opening, 17, in the lower face of the fan-case. This chute K then and the passage mentioned from the annular dust-chamber are the sources of draft for the fan. It has a single exit-chute, K, through which the dust and impurities separated from the grain are carried to a point remote from the grain-exit. The shaft G has a pulley, Y, through which it is connected with a source of power, (not shown,) and its lower end is seated upon an adjustable step,

g. This step is supported by a rod, which passes through a proper recess formed in the base of the frame X, and by suitable nuts, as g, the step may be raised or lowered at will. This adjustment of the step 9', and, consequently,of the main shaft G, is important in its relation to theoperating-eone A.,which is rigid with the shaft, and occupies a position within the cleaning-chamber. This cone in general contour corresponds with the cavity or interior of the jacket. That part of it which lies op posite the rubber of the jacket, and which may be termed its operating-surface, is a continuous smooth sharp cutting-surfiice of emery. The lower portion of the cone, which in operation lies opposite to the screen D, is provided with a continuous brushing-surface, as 0. Such brushes in connection with wirescreens have been heretofore used. The jack et may be made in sections secured by any suit able means, as b: The hopper may be con trolled by any suitable valve which will allow the feed to be properly adjusted.

The foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,will be sufficient to set forth the general construction of the machine; but in this art important consequences result from apparently unimportant changes and modifications. In the machine presented I embody several elements which will prob ably be best understood if given in their relation to the operation of the machine. Motion having been imparted to the shaft and cone and fan, and a proper feed of grain having been made, the grain enters the machine near the center of the top of the cone, and as it becomes affected by the motion of the cone it is uniformly spread out into a thin sheet, and thus falls into the space between the cone and the jacket. As it begins its downward course it strikes the revolving surface of the cone, is repelled, strikes the lining of the jacket, and is again thrown back against the cone. Thus each end of the berry is successively treated until the fuzz and impurities are thoroughly removed. The action of the fan in the mean time has created a partial vacuum in this space, and the light fuzz, 850., is carried down with the grain. As soon as the grain passes below the rubber b the brushes 0 act upon it, and the fuzz, &c., "which by this time is converted into dust, is drawn through the screens D. The holes e are of such size that there will be a partial vacuum in the dust-chamber E when the machine is in motion. The grain is brushed against the screens and finally falls to the floor I), whence itis delivered by means of the chute H, while the greater portion of the dust, &c., is drawn around under the floor I) and into the fan-chamber. If any of the dust, however, falls into the grain-chute H with the grain, the action of the fan through the chute K creates a counter-draft in the lower portion of the chute and carries it to the fan-chamber, whence it is all carried off through the blow-chute K.

I attach importance to the rubber-lined Lin jacket in its relation to the emery cone. The cone is without rib or corrugation, and the rubber lining presents a continuous and approximately smcoth face. All points of the cone and lining which are radially opposite each other are of a uniform distance apart, and no variation in the treatment of the grain occurs during its passage through the space between the cone and the elastic linin The concavity of said lining being toward the grain each berry asits end is pressedinto such lining not only receives the benefit of the elas-' ticity of the lining in throwing the berry back upon the cone, but of its concavity in retard ing its motion.

I attach importance to the location of the fan and to the dust-chamber, as shown. The holes or perforations are controlled by any suitable valves, to adjust the draft.

In details of construction modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention,

the essential features of which will be readily understood.

Vhat I claim as new is 1. In a grain-cleaner, the combination of a each other that the ends of each berry in its downward path are successively presented to the action of the conical and concave surfaces.

2. In a grain scouring and cleaning machine of the class described, the combination of a revolving cone having an emery surface with a jacket having a lining of rubber which presents a smooth elastic inner surface continuously concentric to the cone, and arranged to allow the grain to be forced through the space between the cone and the lining, and to receive the effect of the combined elasticity and concavity of the lining and the grinding effect of the emery as the cone is revolved, as set forth.

8. In agrai n-cleaning machine,substantially as described, the combination of the jacket having a rubber lining and openings, as D, covered by wire sereens,as D,with the revolving cone having an emery surface to correspond with the lining and brushes, as G, to correspond with the screens, as set forth.

4. The jacket B, having a scouring-surface above and screens I) below, and having a casing, E, to form a dust-chamber exterior to said screens, combined with a revolving cone having a grinding-surface above and a brushsurface which lies opposite the screens, and a fan-chamber connected with said dust-chamber, thelatter being provided with means, as e, for admitting air theret0,and valves e, for controlling and adjusting said air-inlets at will, as set forth.

5. The jacket having grain-chute H and screens I), combined with the cone, the dnstchamber having controlled air-inlet, the fan, the chute K, and fan-discharge chute K, arranged and operating as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a graiircleaner, the combination ofa cone having a cuttingsurface in the upper portion thereof and a brushing-surface below, a surrounding jacket having an inner elastic surface corresponding to the grinding or cutting part of the cone, and perforations in the lower part corresponding to the brushing portion of the cone, a secondary jacket forming with the first-named jacket an air-chamber, a delivery-spout for the grain, and an air-fan hung on the same vertical shaft as the cone and connected with said air-chamber, as and for the purposes set forth. I

7. In a graiireleaner, the eombinatiomwith a revolving cone having a cutting or grinding surface in the upper part thereof and a brushing-surface below, a surrounding jacket hav' ing an elastic rubber lining opposite the grinding-surface of the cone and perforations opposite the brushing-surface thereof, a secondary jacket having adj ust-ably-covered holes therein surrounding holes in the first-named jacket and forming an airchamber, and the fan and chamber,as described, and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a grain-cleaner, the coinbinatiomwith the cone having grinding and polishing surfaces, and with the jacket having elastic lining and perforations arranged, as described, of a feed spout or hopper placed above and near the center of said cone, a fan placed beneath said cone, a 'fairchambcr, a secondary jacket forming an air-chamber connected with the fan-chamber and having controlled air-ducts therein, a delivery spent for the grain, and conduits connecting the said deliveryspout, air-chamber, and fan, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In a graiircleaner, the combination of cone A, jacket B, brush 0, wire-netting D,

jacket E, fan F, shaft G, delivery-spout H,

jacket I, spout K, conduit K, and spent L, all substanliall y as described,and for the purposes set forth.

MIDDLETON GRAVFORD.

Vitnesses:

H. M. COLLYER, Fronts L. BROWN. 

